Reinking device for typewriter ribbons



Feb; 23, 1932. M! E. STEPHENSON REINKING DEVIQE'FOR TYPEWRIIER RIBBONS.

Filed, July 27, 1929 lnvenTor.

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Patented Feb. 23, 1932 MILTON E. STEPHENSON, on NEWTON CENTER,MassAcHUsETTs; STATE STREET TRUST COMPANY EXECUTGE OF SAID MILTQN' E.STEPHENSON, DECEASED REINKING DEVICE FOR TYPE'WRITER RIBBON SApplication filed July 27,

This invention relatesto reinking devices for typewriter ribbons and isparticularly directed to a portable device which may be attached to andremoved from a typewriter or other writing machine which uses a ribbon.

It is a great inconvenience as wellas a needless expense tothe user ofwriting machines to frequently replace ribbons. Furthermore the handlingof the ribbon subjects the operator to a very unpleasant soiling of thehands which may result in damage to clothing as well as soiling theoperators work.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a portable devicethat will reink and renew a typewriter ribbon which has been used untilit fails to give a satisfactory impression.

The object of the invention is further to provide a device which may betemporarily clamped to a typewriter or other writing machines in suchposition that the ribbon may be inked or reinked without removing itfrom the machine.

The object of the invention is further to provide a device of thecharacter described which is adjustable to enable it to be applied tomachines of various makes.

A further object of the invention is to provide an inking device whichwillapply the ink to the ribbon uniformly.

The object of the inventionis further to provide an inking device inwhichthe transfer of ink from the ink containing means to the ribbon maybe varied by varying the tension of the ribbon during the reinkingoperation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rcinking device of thecharacter described in which a multi-colored ribbon may be inked.

These and other objects and features will appear more fully from theaccompanying description in connection with the accompanying drawingsand will be particularly pointed out in the claims. I

A preferred embodiment is illustrated in the drawings:

Fig. 1 is aplan view of a portion of a typewriter with the device inposition to reink the ribbon.

1929. Serial No. 381,485

Fig. 2 is a cross section on line 2- 2 Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the cas ingi showing a modified formof the inking ro s.

Fig. 4t is a bottom plan view of the casing: containing the ink rolls. I

In the use of writing machines the character of the work depends to alarge.- extent upon the condition of the inking. ribbon. In order tomaintain the desired uniafornrqua'lity of work frequent renewal of' theribbon. must be made. Where many machines are used the item of expenseis an important fate-- tor and in order to minimize this expenseworn outribbons are sometimes continued in' use at a sacrifice of the quality ofwork.

Another important factor which causes unsatisfactory results is t'henatural" inclination of the operator to avoid the inevitable. soiling ofhands resulting from making achange to a new ribbon. The. generaltendency is therefore to use the ribbon for: too great a period of timeuntil the writing'becomes very unsatisfactory. These and other factorstend to reduce the general efficiency of the operator and the quality ofthe work;

The invention herein disclosed supplies the means to largely overcomethe factors which lower the general operating. efficiency of suchmachines. It comprises generally a roll rotatably mounted within acasing. The: roll may be made of any suitable absorbent material such asfelt or sponge rubber. The.

roll is saturated with ink and means are provided for transferring theinkthoroughly and evenly to the typewriter ribbon. Fur-- thermore it isportable and: is providedwith adjustable means for clamping it to anytype of writing machine. The supporting means is of such character thatthe inking" rolls are supported ina position which will enable theribbon to be inked or reinked with-- out removal from the typewriter.Adjustments are also provided to enablethe'i'nking rolls to be clampedin a plane substantially corresponding to the plane of the spoolscontaining the ribbon and having their axes par allel to the axis of thespools.

Provision is thus made for greatly facili tating the reinking process aswill be described in more detail hereinafter.

The specilic embodiment of the invention shown comprises casing 1enclosing an ink roll of felt or other absorbent material which iscylindrical in shape and rotatably mounted in the casing by means of apivot pin 3 extending axially through the roll and into ournals 4 ateach end provided therefor in the casing 1. In peripheral contact withthe ink roll 2 is a transfer roll 5 preferably of smaller diameter thanthe roll 2 and having trunnions 6 which extend into slots 7 in thecasing. The slots 7 are arranged substantially in radial. direction fromthe axis of the roll 2 thus permitting the roll 5 to move toward theaxis of the roll 2. A supporting means is provided which hasincorporated therein the necessary adjustments to make thedevicesubstantially universally adaptable to any typewriting machine. Suchmeans comprises a spring actuated clamping bracket 8 conveniently madeof spring wire which has a general U-shaped form. One leg 9' of theclamping bracket 8 is secured to the casing 1 while the other leg 10 isadapted to embrace a convenient part of the writing machine such as theusual platen ll. Certain sections of the wire are formed into coilsprings 12 in order to provide the necessary resilience and clampingaction. Any suitable means may be used however to accomplish the sameresult. By extending the length of the legs of the U-shaped clamp as shoin the scope of the clamp is greatly increased which provides the meansof attaching the device to a wide variety of sizes and types of writ ingmachines. It is also possible to modify the clamping device by bendingthe wire to conform with a special structure which otherwise is notadapted to receive the device.

()n certain of the common types of machines in use there is found atypebar guide 13 of a general shape as illustrated in Figs.

T1 and 2. The upper portion of this guide projects horizontally as shownat 14. This typebar guide may conveniently be used to aid in supportingthe inking device. To utilize this element to the est advantage theclamping bracket is provided with a retaining bar 15 which is V-shapedin cross section and fits over the end portion 1a of the typ bar guide13. This retaining bar 15 is adjustablealong the leg 9 of the clan'ipingbracket and in this way the casing 1 may be properly positioned in therequired horizontal plane.

The two portions 16 and 17 of the leg 9 are inserted in apertures formedin both the upper and lower portions of the V-shapecL bar 15 which ismade of resilient sheet ma-' terial. The apertures in the bar 15 are sopositioned and of such a size that it is necessary to press the upperand lower sections thereof toward each other in order that the cause afirm frictional engagement with the i leg 9 of the clamp. If it bedesirable to move the bar it may be forced along the wire into thedesired position or the two sections of the V-bar may be pressedtogether to relieve the tension thus permitting the bar to be readilymoved along the wire. Other adjusting means may be used however withoutdeparting from the invention.

The V-bar 15 may rest directly upon the platen or may be positioned atany convenient point. If there is no typebar guide similar to thatillustrated the V-bar 15 may rest directly upon the platen or may bepositioned at any convenient pointto properly position the device.

It is one of the features of this invention to provide a reinking meanswhich can be readily applied to any writing machine for temporary use ininking or reinking the ribbon after which the device is removed. Thisportable feature is a decided advantage in many ways. F or instance onedevice may be used to ink a number of machines. Furthermore if thedevice were built as a permanent part of the machine it wouldnecessarily complicate an already complicated machine. By providing forthe removal of the device no elements are normally present except thosewhich are necessary to the writing operation of the machine thusincreasing the general eiliciency of the typewriter or other writingmachine.

The drawings illustrate the device applied to a typical writing machinewherein the clamping means embraces the platen and the V-bar 15 engagesthe end 1 of the typebar guide. By means of the adjustments abovedescribed the ink rolls within the casing l are properly positioned.Thereafter the device can be immediately clamped in place on the machineand removed at will. To thread the device the ribbon 18 is removed fromits normal position behind the typebar guide and inserted behind tworesiliently mounted guide bars 19 and 20 extending vertically 1...

from the lower face of the casing l situated at either side of the inktransfer roll 5. V hen in this position the ribbon passes from the spool21 directly to one of the guide bars 19, over the outer surface of thetransfer roll 5. to the other guide bar 20 and thence to the spool 22 asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. l.

The resilient guide bars 19 and 20 are spring pressed toward thetransfer roll in any convenient manner. As herein shown the bars aremade of resilient wire and are bent at right angles at their lower endsand extend to lie along the lower wall of the easing 1 and are fastenedin any desirable manner thereto as by soldering at the point 23.

masses:

The intermediate portion of the wire between the upright guides 19 and20 and the point 23 provide the required resiliency and act to press theribbon into contact with the trans fer roll 5. A further function of theguide bars is to cause the ribbon to engage a substantial portion of theroll 5.

In the operation of the device it is unnecessary to remove or alter theposition of the usual ribbon supporting spools 21 and 22 of the writingmachine. In order to ink or reink the ribbon it is merely necessary tomanipulate the spools in the ordinary way as when rewinding the ribbonfrom one spool to the other. As a result of the special construction ofthe support for the transfer roll 5 the tension of the ribbon will causethe roll 5 to bear against the ink roll with a pressure proportional tothe tension in the ribbon. By retarding one spool as the other isrotated a generous supply of ink is transferred and by modifying thisprocedure any desired amount of ink may be transferred to the ribbon. Byincreasing or decreasing the pressure upon the ink roll more or less inkwill be withdrawn therefrom. The necessary movement of the roll 5 isprovided for by the slot 7. When the ribbon has been properly inked itis reinserted in its normal writing position and the reinking device isremoved.

The roll 5 being of small diameter rotates relatively faster than theink roll and quickly becomes evenly coated with ink. Each point of itscircumference repeatedly comes in contact with different portions of theink roll which tends to spread the ink and transfer it evenly to theribbon. If the ribbon be multi-colored as shown in Fig. 3 the ink rollis divided into the required number of portions. Two portions 24 and 25are shown which are separated by a non-absorbent sheet material 26 toconfine each color to its own portion of the roll. Cooperating therewithis a transfer roll 27 having a dividing slot 28 therein which is ofsuificient width to receive the peripheral portion of the separatingmember 26. By entering the slot 28 the separating member 26 effectuallycuts oif any transfer of ink from one section of the rolls to the other.

By means of this highly efficient inking device the ribbon may be keptin good condition for a long period of time and throughoutits life willprovide better quality of work.

- By keeping the ribbon moist with fresh ink it will at all times be ina highly flexible condition which minimizes the severity of the actionof the type thereon. Whereas when a ribbon is permitted tobecome dry andhard it not only produces apoor quality of work but due to itscomparatively brittle condition it very soon is penetrated by the typeand is thus destroyed and rendered unfit for further use.

Any desirable means may be employed to fill the ink roll 2. Onedesirable method is by the use of a pointed hollow. tube. The tube isfilled with ink and its point is repeatedly injected into the felt andat each injection a quantity of ink is introduced into the roll and alsothe roll is rotated slightly to present another portion of its surfaceto receive the ink.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A reinking device for typewriter ribbons comprising a casing, anabsorbent ink containing roll rotatably mounted therein, a transfer rollin peripheral contact therewith and provided with trunnions mounted inslots in said casing and extending radially from the axis of said inkroll, means to guide the ribbon into contact with the exteriorperipheral portion of said transfer roll, whereby the tension set up inthe ribbon as it is drawn through the device acting upon said transferroll will cause the latter to engage the ink roll with an increasedpressure.

2. A reinking device for typewriter ribbons comprising a casing, anabsorbent ink containing roll rotatably mounted therein, a transfer rollrotatably mounted in peripheral contact therewith and provided withtrunnions mounted in slots in said casing to permit bodily movementthereof to and from the axis of said ink-containing roll, guide barsspring pressed toward said transfer roll acting to guide the ribbon intocontact therewith, and adjustable means to support the inking roll inposition to ink the ribbon without removing it from the machine.

3. A reinking device for typewriter ribbons comprising a casing, anabsorbent ink containing roll rotatably mounted therein, a transfer rollrotatably mounted in peripheral contact therewith and capable of bodilymovement to and from said ink roll, means to guide the ribbon intocontact with a sub stantial area of said transfer roll, a U-shapedresilient supporting bracket secured to said casing and adapted toembrace a portion of the machine to clamp the device in proper position,and means adjustably secured to one leg thereof adapted to engage afixed part of the machine to determine the horizontal position of theinking rolls.

4. A reinking device for typewriter ribbons comprising a casing, anabsorbent relatively soft ink containing roll rotatably mounted therein,a transfer roll provided with the trunnions mounted in slots in saidcasing to permit bodily movement of the transfer roll into peripheralengagement with and to penetrate the surface of said ink roll whenforced thereagainst, guides adjacent the periphery of said ink rollacting to guide the ribbon into contact with a sub stantial portion ofthe exterior periphery of said transfer roll, a U-shaped resilient wireaid supporting bracket adapted to embrace a portion of the typewriter toclamp the casing in position, a channel-shaped retaining bar on saidsupporting bracket adjustable vertically thereof engaging the type barguide of the typewriter to retain the casing in a predeterminedhorizontal plane.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

MILTON E. STEPHENSON.

